By Melanie DeStefano

Aspiring woodworkers in Northwest New Jersey can now learn this long-treasured art conveniently close to home: The New Jersey School of Woodwork celebrated its grand opening in Washington on Saturday, Aug. 15.

Owner Scott Severns, an award-winning woodworker who has owned Oak Mountain Custom Woodwork, which specializes in custom-made furniture, for 20 years, recognized a need for a full-service woodworking school in the Northeast while pursuing his own craft.

After years of dreaming, his plans to open his own school recently began to come together when he learned that space was available in a prominent Washington Borough building – and the landlord there was hoping to turn it into a maker space!

Convenient to highways, Severns said he wouldn’t be surprised to draw students from all over the tri-state area.

Currently, the NJ School of Woodwork space is open for woodworking classes in three levels of skill. Classes include subjects like “Bandsaw Bonanza,” “Women in Woodworking,” “Let’s Build a Bookcase,” “Steam Bending,” and even a “Family Project” course open to parent-child partners.

Eventually, Severns plans to offer even more skills-based classes. CreatitLabs at NJ School of Woodwork will encompass programs in metalwork, 3-D printing, pottery, textiles, and more.

The New Jersey School of Woodwork is located at the rear of 37 East Washington Ave. (Route 57) in Washington, behind Get A Grip.